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Three-dimensional flow and surface visualization using hydrogen bubble technique

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Abstract

A modified hydrogen bubble technique is developed for simultaneous three-dimensional flow visualization and surface visualization on bluff bodies. A detailed description of the technique implementation and operating principles is presented. The technique is validated on two geometries: (1) a uniform circular cylinder for ReD = 1,050 and 2,100; and (2) a dual-step cylinder for ReD = 2,100, D/d = 2, and L/D = 0.5. The results demonstrate that flow visualizations effectively capture intricate three-dimensional wake vortex development including the formation of streamwise structures and vortex interactions in the wake of a dual-step cylinder. The surface visualizations capture boundary layer separation and its variation along the span of the models. Moreover, the results reveal complex three-dimensional surface flow patterns, shedding light on the topology of vortical structures forming near dual-step cylinder junctions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for the funding of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    C. Morton & S. Yarusevych

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  1. C. Morton
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  2. S. Yarusevych
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Correspondence to C. Morton.

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Morton, C., Yarusevych, S. Three-dimensional flow and surface visualization using hydrogen bubble technique. J Vis 18, 47–58 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-014-0219-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-014-0219-0

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